Machine for cutting cloth or fabric



Arramrsr.

July '21, i925.

J. CLARKE MACHINE FOR CUTTING CLOTH OR FABRIC Filed Oct. 20. 1924 5Sheets-Sheet 1 July 21, 1925. 1,546,918

7 J. CLARKE MACHINE FOR CUTTING CLOTH 0R FABRIC Filed 0G1. 20. 1924 3Sheets-Sheet 2 MTHESSES- 706p Mvfrrr 2MWZ J. CLARKE MACHINE FOR CUTTINGCLOTH 0R FABRIC I Filed Oct. 20. 1924,

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3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 21, 1925. 9;

JOSEPH CLARKE, 0F BELFAST, IRELAND.

MACHINE FOB CUTTING CLOTH 0R FABRIC.

Application filed October 20,1924. Serial No. 744,854.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosnPH CLARKE, of Belfast, Ireland, a subject of theKing of Great Britain and Ireland, have invented certain new andusefulImprovements Relating to Machines for Cutting Cloth 0r Fabric, ofwhich the following is a specification. i

This invention relates 'to the cuttingof webs of cloth in themanufacture of articles such as handkerchiefs, or other articles.

According to my invention I provide an improved machine for cuttingfabrics from the web or from the piece, into, pieces of the requiredsize, or sizes. Themachine comprises a support for the web, or piece ofcloth or fabric, the cloth or fabric being taken from the web, or piece,preferably over and under suitable tensioning rollers, or equivalent,into position where the leading edge of'the web or piece can be grippedby a' suitably constructed clamp or clamps adapted to be 'reciprocatedand adapted to close on the leadingedge'of the cloth to grip same beforemoving in the same direction as the cloth, and the amount of movement insaid direction being regulated by adjustment of the means forreciprocating the clamp. At the end of said forward movement scissors,or a knife, or knives, is, or are, operated, preferably automaticallyand through the medium of the driving means which effects the motion ofthe clamp member so as to'cause the cutting device to operate when thelimit of forward movement of the clamp member has been reached, therebycutting off a portion from the web or piece of the desired length. Whenthe cutting operation is completed means come into operation to open theclamp and release the cut portion of the web or piece therefrom so thatit can fall down or otherwise be moved clear of the clamp which thenreturns to repeat the operation as described. The invention will now bedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings whereon: v

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of thecloth cutting machine constructed inaccordance with the invention and showing the cloth gripped by the clampready for the cutting operation.

Fig. 2 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the machine.

Referring to the drawings The machine comprises a frame 1 having guidebars 2 and guide rollers 3 over which the cloth 4: passes to the frontof the machine where it passes between bars 5 and 6 into position wherethe leading edge of the web or piece is adapted to be gripped by a clamp7 The clamp 7 is supported on a bar 8 which is secured 'to' the ends 9of rods 9 slidable in brackets 10 on the frame 1. Provided on the rods 9are sleeves 11 to which the ends .12 of connecting rods 12 areconnected, the other ends 12 of said connecting rods 12 being connectedwith crank pins 12 which engage and can be adjustably secured in slots'13 in wheels 13 supported on a shaft 14- carried by the frame 1. Thisconstruction permits of adjustment of the throw ofthe crank pin 13relatively to the shaft 14f so that'it is possible to adjust the amountof reciprocating movement given through the connecting rods 12 to theslidingrods 9 and thereby regulating the amount of forward movement ofthe cloth or fabric at each reciprocation of the gripping means andbefore each cutting operation as hereinafter described.

The drive of the shaft 14 is effected by chain gearing 15 from a drivingshaft 16. The clamp member 7 comprises a bottom jaw 7 secured to the bar8 and upper jaws 7 adjustably mounted on a spindle 7 which is carried inbearings 7 secured on the bar 8. Each of the upper jaws 7 is turnable onthe spindle 7 and is held thereon by screw members 7 This arrangementpermits of the upper jaws 7" being adjusted so that when hemmed cloth orcloth of varying thicknesses is being cut by the machine it can begripped evenly from one side to the other. One end of the spindle 7 isconnected with azlever 17 having a projection 17 thereon, adapted, whenthe clamp 7 is being moved towards the leading edge of the cloth to gripsame, to engage an inclined member 18 which normally rests on a bar 19secured to the frame 1 so that when they projection 17* of the lever 17is moved up the inclined member 18, the spindle 7 will be turned andwill open the jaws of the clamp 7 against the action of a springconnected with the other end of the spindle 7 The normally inclinedmember 18 is pivoted at 18 to a member 18 and when the projection 17 ofthe member 17 is moved up the inclined member 18 to the top thereof itwill fall down on to the bar 19 and cause the clamp 7 to be closed bythe action of the spring 20. The inclined member 18 will then rest onthe projection 17 of the lever 17 during the return movement of theclamp 7. The cutting of the cloth is eflected by means of cuttingmembers 21 and having cutting edges 21 and 22 The cutting member 21 isarranged parallel with the clamp 7 and is secured to the frame 1 at eachside thereof. The cutting member 22 is arranged at an angle to thecutting member 21 and it is connected at each end thereof with rods 23slidable in bearings 23 and connected, through the me dium of links 24,with levers 25 pivotally supported on a spindle 26 carried by theframe 1. The levers 25 are connected with one another at their back endsby a rod 25 and they are provided with counter balancing weights 25 Themovements of the levers 25 are controlled by cams 27 of the shaft 14,the inner paths 27 of the cams 27 being engaged by rollers 28 and theouter profile surfaces of the cams being engaged by rollers 29, therollers 28 and 29 being connected with discs 30 on pins 31 connectedwith the levers 25. The discs 30 are free to turn on the pins 31 so thatwhen the rollers 28 travel round the narrow portion of the cam thisfreedom will permit the rollers 28 to lag and thus avoid a sharpmovement thereof which might cause knocking or jarring of the mechanism.

The bars 5 and 6 are supported by members 36 slidable in brackets 37secured to the cutting member 21. The members 36 are provided withprojections 38 adapted to be engaged by cams 3.) on a spindle drivenfrom the shaft 14 by a. chain 40 and carried by the brackets 37. Anangle bar 6 arranged parallel and in alignment with the bar 6 isconnected with pins (3 which pass through the bar '6. The front edge 6of the angle bar 6 normally rests against the top of the cutting member21 and the arrangement is such that the cams 39 on the spindle 40 will,through the projections 38 on the bars 86 raise the latter against theaction of springs 41 and the angle bar 6 and so raise the bars 5 and 6and angle bar 6 will be moved over and rest on the top of the cuttingmember 21 by the action of springs (3 and will support the cloth orfabric so that it can be gripped by the clamp when the latter returnsand at the same time as the clamp 7 closes on the cloth the anglebar 6will be pushed clear of the cutting member 21 by projecting members 42sc cured to the bar 8. The angle bar 6 and bars 5 and 6 will then, bythe action of the springs 41, return to their normal positions ready forthe next operation.

The arrangement is such that when the clamp 7 has gripped the leadingedge of the cloth or fabric as hereinbefore described it will be movedforward to its predetermined distance controlled by the cranlc pins 12and sliding rods 9 and when the limit of the forward movement of theclamp is reached the cams 27 will move the levers downwardly taking withthem the rods 23 and cutting member 22 thereby cutting the fabric, afterwhich operation the clamp 7 will commence its backward movement and assoon as the projection 17 of the member 17 bears on the inclined member18 the clamp 7 will be opened and the cut ma terial released therefrom.At the same time the angle bar 6 will be pushed over the cutting member21 as hereinbefore described to support the leading edge of the clothwhilst it is being gripped by the clamp member 7 when the forwardmovement of the clamp will again commence to repeat the operationsdescribed.

Having now fully described my invention what I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. A machine for cutting material comprising a support for the material adapted to be given an upward andforward movement, means for tensioning the material, a clamp consistingof a lower jaw and a number of upper jaws independently adjustable alongand around a spindle, the said clamp being held closed by means of aspring and being opened by the engagement with an inclined member of anarm connected to the said spindle carrying the upper jaws, rods,connected to the said clamp, slidably mounted on the machine frame andadapted to be reciprocated by means of connecting rods operated by crankwheels, means for regulating the amountof reeiproeating movement of thegripping means, a cutting device, means for operating the said device sothat at the end of the forward movement of the gripping means a portionof desired length is cut off from the ma terial.

2. A machine for cutting material comprising a support for the materialadapted to be given an upward and forward movement, means for tensioningthe material, a clamp consisting of a lower jaw and a num ber of upperjaws independently adjustable along and around a spindle, the said clampbeing held closed by means of a spring and being opened by theengagement with an inclined member of an arm connected to the saidspindle carrying the upper jaws, rods, connected to the said clamp,slidably mounted on the machine frame and adapted to be reciprocated bymeans of connecting rods operated by crank Wheels, radial slots in thesaid wheels, in which slots crank pins for engaging the said connectingrods are ad ustably fitted, a cutting device, means for operating thesaid device so that at the end of the forward movement of the grippingmeans a portion of desired length is out 01? from the material.

8. A machine for cutting material, comprising upper and lower bars forsupporting the material therebetween, an angle bar, on the lower of thesaid bars, normally resting against the edge of the lower cutting memberof the machine and adapted to be moved upward and forward along with thesaid upper and lower bars to cover the said cutting edge, means fortensioning the ma terial, clamp comprising upper and lower jaws heldtogether by a spring and adapted to be opened by the engagement with aninclined member of an arm connected to the upper jaws, rods, connectedto the said clamp, and adapted to be reciprocated by means of connectingrods operated by crank wheels, radial slots in the said wheels, in whichslots crank pins for engaging the said connecting rods are ajustablyfitted, a lower cutting member secured to the machine trame, an uppercutting member arranged at an angle to the said lower memher and adaptedfor vertical movement towards and away from the said lower member by cammeans for the purpose of cutting the material.

41. A machine for cutting material comarising an upper and lower bararranged to form therebetween a support for the material, means fortensioning the material, a clamp comprising a lower jaw and a number ofupper, jaws independently adjustable along and around the spindle, thesaid clamp being held closed by means of a spring and being opened bythe engagement with an inclined member of an arm connected to the saidspindle carrying the upper jaws, rods connected. to the said clamp,

and adapted to be reciprocated by means of connecting rods operated bycrank wheels, radial slots in the said wheels, in which slots crank pinsfor engaging the said connecting rods are adjustably fitted, a lowercutting member secured to the machine frame, an upper cutting memberarranged at an angle to the said lower member and adapted for verticalmovement towards and away from the said lower member by cam means forthe purpose of cutting the material.

5. A machine for cutting material comprising upper and lower bars forsupporting the material therebetween, an angle bar, on the lower of thesaid bars, normally resting against the edge of the lower cutting memberof the machine and adapted to be moved u award and forward along withthe said upper and lower bars to cover the said cutting edge, means fortensioning the material, a clamp comprising a lower jaw and a number ofupper jaws independently adjustab-le along and around a spindle, thesaid clamp being held closed by means of a spring and being opened bythe engagement with an inclined member of an arm con nected to the saidspindle carrying the upper aws, rods connected to the said clamp, andadapted to be reciprocated by means of connecting rods operated by crankwheels, radial slots in the said wheels, in which slots crank pins forengaging the said connecting rods are adjustably titted, a lower cuttingmember secured to the machine :t'rame, an upper cutting member arrangedat an angle to the said lower member and adapted for vertical movementtowards and away from the said lower member by cam means for the purposeof cutting the material.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH CLARKE.

l/Vitnesses:

ANDREW I'IAMILTON, HARVEY WAnrna ,ALLSOP.

